Inland residents spent another day soaking up the spring sun Saturday, March 28, with some – including residents of one mountain community – seeing a record high.

The heat wave persisted as temperatures hit record and near-record highs, the National Weather Service said.

A record for March 28 was reported in Big Bear, where temperatures reached 69, breaking a 2001 record of 67. Record highs were also reported in Palm Springs, which hit 100, and Thermal, where temperatures reached 98. The previous record for both cities was in March 1969, when the mercury rose to 97 in both cities.

“This is an unusually warm March,” said Mark Moede, a Weather Service meteorologist, who cited a ridge of high pressure as the reason.

Temperatures will drop a few degrees Sunday, March 29, and Monday and dip into the low 80s by mid-week, he said.

“We’re going to trend a little cooler, but it will still be above average for early April,” Moede said.

In Riverside, the high was 90. But that didn’t quite break the record of 91 set in 1968.

The heat was no big deal to Rudy Hernandez, who was barbecuing chicken, hot dogs and pork chops in the front yard of his Eastside home.

“You see everybody is freezing back east,” said Hernandez, 36. “I’d rather have this than all the snow.”

Hernandez said he’s happy as long as temperatures don’t reach triple digits.

“Anything under 100 is perfect,” he said.

Not far away, Humberto Heredia was relaxing in a lounge chair under tall shade trees watching an adult soccer game at Bobby Bonds Park. The gentle breeze created ideal conditions to watch, he said.

“I wish it was like this all the time,” said the 64-year-old Riverside resident.

Sitting on a blanket nearby, Ruth Sanchez wasn’t as pleased. She attended a health fair at the park earlier in the day and decided to stay for the soccer.

“It’s really hot, even in the shade,” said Sanchez, 49. “I don’t even want to think about what it will be like in the summer.”

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